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One week away.....let's take a quick look at offense lineman...

Each team has one upperclassman TE....size is pretty similar...looks even overall

OL - UCA has three upper classmen on the OL (avg 6'3 310) while MSU has 8 (6'3, 305) including the transfer from Coastal Carolina...depth goes to MSU...size close but UCA a little bigger although less experienced....looks like slight edge to Maroon Bears

UCA:

Wow,,,did not see until now however many freshmen we have in the o-line room....not a lot of upperclassmen....going to be lots of opportunity for guys to step up and play soon....

TE - FR Drake Avery, 6'3,255
TE - FR Tyler Siddons, 6'5, 235
TE - FR Jordan Owens, 6'6, 255
TE - JR Austin Eldridge, 6'3, 245
TE - JR Riyadh Ananda, 6'3, 230
TE - SO Haze Denton, 6'3, 255

OL - SO Jamal Mull, 6'5,310
OL - R-FR Jack Green, 6'1, 295
OL - FR Darren Robinson, 5'10, 280
OL - FR Luke Stringer, 6'2, 270
OL - FR Tederian Blair, 6'2, 305
OL - JR Jacob Cox, 6'3, 300
OL - FR Chaylin Peine, 6'5, 300
OL - R-FR Frazier Rose, 6'6, 300
OL - SO William Mayo, 6'5, 330
OL - JR Josh George, 6'3, 310
OL - SO Bakarious Collier, 6'4, 305
OL - FR Mark Welch, 6'3, 300
OL - FR Zachary Cochnaurer, 6'5,290
OL - FR Will Diggins, 6'4, 275
OL - FR Zane Hayman, 6'4, 295
OL - SO Derek Haupt, 6'4, 305
OL - SR Jaylin Hendrix, 6'4, 315
OL - SO Justin Lairy, 6'3, 290

MSU:

TE- R/JR #14, 6'4,250
TE - SO #49, 6'2, 241
TE - FR #85, 6'3,240
TE - SO #87, 6'4,244
TE - FR #89, 6'5, 230

OL - FR, #52, 6'1, 2
OL - JR, #53, 6'6, 301
OL - JR, #54, 6'2, 300
OL - JR #56, 6'2, 330
OL - FR #57, 6'3, 301
OL - R-SR #60, 6'2, 306 (transfer from Coastal Carolina)
OL - JR #65, 6'5, 299
OL - R-FR #66, 6'6, 296
OL - FR #71, 6'3, 272
OL - R-FR #72, 6'2, 290
OL - JR #73, 6'3, 298
OL - JR #75, 6'3, 203 (transfer from Mount San Antonio College)
OL - FR #76, 6'5, 325
OL - JR #77, 6'2, 289 (transfer from Fresno City College)
OL - R-FR #79, 6'6, 293

Bobby P: 27
Nathan Brown: 13

This is an interesting one.

On one hand, you've got Mo State coming in as a top 5 program, returning a large number of starters and a large portion of their 2021 production back for another year. QB was the MVFC newcomer and offensive player of the year, several all MVFC selections with him on offense. Big name Bobby P still at the helm. Coming off of an 8-4 campaign and first round playoff loss to UT-Martin

On the other hand, you have the purple bears coming in trying to bounce back from a disappointing 5-6 campaign a year ago that saw the bears lose a few close ones. 45 new players on the roster, whole new QB room, lots of new faces in the WR room. Replacing two of the most prolific receivers UCA has ever seen.

Thursday night matchup - students should still be on campus, 7:00 kick so late enough to get some Conway residents out to the game.

I think the average fan looks at this game as a pretty bad situation for us. We're all very new, they're very experienced and talented, however I think there is something to be said for the fact that we have an element to the offense that we haven't had in several years. McElvain can run, and he's quick enough to get away and extend plays when the pocket breaks down. OL looks much improved from a year ago in pass protection, and we have one of the best RB rooms in the country completely back for another year. I think it'll be interesting to see how we utilize some of those guys outside of the backfield. Lots of good receiver talent returning (Jarrod Barnes/Christian Richmond/Jared Long) and three very good FBS transfers from Arkansas, Colorado, and Minnesota.

Defense looks fast. Great DE transfer from SAU that'll play opposite of Jessup. Returning Davenport at LB plus 2-3 JUCO transfers that look pretty salty. Secondary is getting healthy. We have some length and speed on the back end and we're returning both safeties that started a year ago.

Overall, I like our talent against theirs, but I definitely like their experience. I think the fact that they haven't seen most of our team on film is an advantage for us. Last year, you could key on Hudson/Winningham and pretty much shut the offense down with the exception of some running game from Darius. I think we have the chance to be much more balanced this year, and I think even when the pocket breaks down we have a chance to see some explosives from McElvain's legs.

Give me the Purple Bears by a field goal. 31-28

Roll Damn Bears

Crazy to see Josh George at this size and level of football. Grew up with his family in church at Benton. Great kid with a strong work ethic and good attiude overall.

Defintely nervous for this game. We are going to have to control the speed of the game. I am a little nervous that if we let them get up big early, it's game over. Keep it within 7 going into the half, I think we may be able to pull it off.

Crowd will be an x-factor for sure. Thursday night game, should be big with student attendance. Will Conway folks show up though? That's the big question mark.

Now for a look at how well D-lines compare...

DE - Each has 2 upperclassmen and about the same depth and size...slight edge to UCA only because I know who Jessup is....

DL - UCA has 4 upperclassmen who avg 6'2/290...MSU also has 4 upperclassmen who avg 6'2/292....MSU underclassmen probably have a slight weight advantage...notable that 1 of MSU's are transfers from FBS/P-5 programs and that level coaching and competition....pretty even but MSU looks to have a slight edge....

UCA:

DE - #0 – SO David Walker, 6’3, 265
DE - #9 - JR Logan Jessup,6’3, 255
DE - #33 – R-FR Barylre Davenport, 6’3, 255
DE - #50 – SO Jace McCoy, 6’3, 260
DE - #93 – JR Marquez Casey, 6’3, 260


DL- #8 – SR Jalen Bedell, 6’2, 315
DL - #41 – JR Javeon Jones, 6’3, 280
DL - #42 – JR Taurean Mays, 6’2, 260
DL - #49 – SO Drake Bradley, 6’1, 285
DE - #50 – SO Jace McCoy, 6’3, 260
DL - #91 – FR Samuel Horton, 6’4, 240
DL - #97 – SR Caden Brown, 6’1, 302
DL - #98 – R-FR Bradley Clark, 6’2, 320
DL - #99 – SO Stephon McGlaun, 6’4, 280

MSU:

DE – #14 – SO, 6’3, 250
DE - #15 – SR, 6’4, 241
DE - #33 – SR, 6’2, 245 (transfer from Kansas State)
DE - #43 – R-FR, 6’3, 249
DE - #91 – SO, 6’5, 285
DE - #95 – SO, 6’4, 6’4, 250

DL - #2- JR, 6’2, 295 (transfer from Central Michigan)
DL - #44 – SO, 6’0, 298
DL - #52 – JR, 6’2, 295
DL – #90 – R-FR, 6’3, 315
DL - #92 – SO, 6’0, 283 (transfer from Iowa Central)
DL - #94 – SR, 6’2, 282 (transfer from Cerritos College)
DL – #96 – SO, 6’0, 292
DL – #98 – FR, 6’6, 235
DL - #99 – JR, 6’2, 296 (transfer from Mississippi State)

Crowd statement is 100 percent true. I think student crowd will be good. Hoping people don’t stay home with work looming Friday morning! Purple out so make sure you’re not the guy wearing white or gray!

Bring yourself and bring a friend!

Bringing my family and my UCA recruit! Hoping to get about 10 there!

I saw Siloam Springs play at Rogers Heritage last week...both teams struggle in their classifications......Heritage won Q1 9-0 as SS could not get going and gave up a pretty good drive by Heritage plus gave up a safety....

Then SS outplayed Heritage the rest of the game and "won" 14-7 and should have been at least 21-7....but Heritage made one stop late and drove the length of the field and ate the clock to win 16-14...

My point is that MSU can win this game in Q1 if UCA has a slow start with a new QB and some new WRs.....then get in the groove and "win" after that but lose the game....

The TEs, OLs and DL/DEs look to be pretty similar with a slight edge to MSU....it is pretty well known they have starters and experience coming back on offense that we do not....our kicking game should be solid....our LBs and DBs could be a key to the game....our LBs have pretty good experience levels......our DBs always seem to be a question early but having Godfrey and Cain is important.....MSU have lots of transfers from FBS/P-5 schools that shows a level of talent in the depth....

Still thinking about what to predict for the score....if we can get thru Q1 and be close then game on....

Hello all! Good luck to your Bears Thursday. Where is the best place to pre-game (drinks and food)? Preferably walking distance to the stadium. Thanks and Go Bears!

I hate not picking the Purple Bears as much as I hate losing.....it might turn out to be a very good FCS game that goes down to who has the ball last.....Purple Bears have to get after it on both sides of LOS from the start and offense needs to click early....the "scouting report" below of MSU gives good reason to pick the Maroon Bears...looking for special teams to help with field position and FGs.... but I can see MSU get out to a 17-6 lead by half then the game is on....at the end MSU wins this one by 38-34....

For UCA this is a big opportunity but not necessarily a must win game.....a win would be HUGE for the D1 win plus rankings which are important for FCS playoff selection....even a close loss and a well-played game moves us up in the rankings....

GO (Purple) Bears!!!

"Missouri State, under third-year head coach Bobby Petrino, is ranked Nos. 5/8 in the preseason FCS polls after finishing 8-4 with an FCS Playoff appearance a year ago. The Bears are picked third in the tough Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) behind North Dakota State and South Dakota State, and had eight players named to the preseason All-MVFC team.

"Missouri State returns 17 starters, headlined by Jason Shelley, a preseason first-team All-American," said Brown. "He is the returning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. He was a transfer last year from Utah State. Obviously, Coach Petrino has a track record of developing quarterbacks.

"Shelley is no different. He has dual-threat ability. We have to contain him, keep him in the box, don't let him break the pocket, because that's where he can hurt you.

"You want to talk about a quarterback matchup, you'll have one Thursday night. It will be fun to watch."

Shelley is one of six preseason All-Americans on the MSU roster, including receiver Ty Scott, cornerback Montrae Braswe, safety Kyriq McDonald, punter Grant Burkett and kicker Jose Pizano. Braswell, a junior from Avon Park, Fla., is on the preseason Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, while Shelley joins UCA's Hale on the preseason Walter Payton Award Watch List."

Welcome! Glad you're making the trip. Walking distance places: Skinny J's - good food, maybe a little pricey.

Bear's Den - college bar, cheap drinks, cheap food, right across the street

IT'S GAMEDAY

ROLL DAMN BEARS

Thanks for the suggestions! Looking forward to the game! Go BEARS!!

New season, same old problems.

2022 going to be a long season….